Piero's Diary

Bio and News

Between 1940 and 1943, while Italy is at war, high school student Piero Umiliani keeps a diary. The diary, entitled "Da Grande Vorrei" (“When I’m grown up I’d like…”) is finalist in the 2004 edition of the Pieve Award, organized by the Fondazione Archivio Diaristico Nazionale.

Music is in the dreams of young Piero, who hopes to succeed in life….

February 15, 1940 (Thursday)“… I had a lesson of harmony with Mister Gigino; he told me that if I find some verses and come up with a theme I could, with his help, compose a song and then bring it to an editor and have it published.At first I would do it for free and then, with time, I could earn some money;I would like to compose music. In the future this could be an enjoyment, besides my other occupations, that when I’m grown up, if I am capable, could bring me good earnings…”

Piero Umiliani with his high school classmates (third row from the bottom, sixth on the left).